MECHANICAL ENGINEER

Join the team! This position is located in the Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, Directorate for Engineering Sciences, Division of Mechanical Engineering (ESME). As the repository of technical expertise on mechanical product hazards for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ESME staff has the opportunity to regularly interact with national and international experts in product safety.

Duties
This position offers the chance to work on a blend of short term and long-term projects that are highly topical and relevant with an opportunity to effect changes to the safety of mechanical products within the very near term. The Division is responsible for providing the full range of professional mechanical engineering expertise required for the analysis and evaluation of the safety of consumer products. The Division designs, conducts, and evaluates product safety tests and test methods; develops and evaluates performance criteria and design requirements for consumer products; participates in the development of product safety standards and provides or evaluates technical content of proposed standards; performs or manages research programs in the engineering sciences; develops, reviews, and evaluates scientific and engineering evidence in connection with enforcement actions relating to substantial product hazards; and serves as a technical liaison with other organizations concerned with the engineering and scientific aspects of product safety.

The incumbent of this position will apply knowledge of mechanical engineering in order to analyze and study the safety aspects of consumer products and their components for hazards, the primary focus areas being children's products, sports and recreation products, combustion products, and/or household products. Responsibilities include:

Developing and revising existing regulations and technical policies relating to safety standards.
Preparing reports and position papers, assessing technical determinations on hazards and the adequacy of standards developed by others in an effort of hazard and injury reduction.
Preparing and conducting presentations to the Commission and the public describing the staff's analysis and recommendations.
Developing, performing, and/or monitoring analyses, testing programs, research and studies conducted by the Division.
Preparing plans, performing analyses and implementing studies designed to answer specific questions about the strength, design, manufacture, etc., of the product under investigation in connection with product safety assessments.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• Background Investigation Required.
• Must meet education requirements.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

This is a Public Trust Position. Employment in this position requires a background investigation. If you are selected and cannot obtain a favorable security determination within a reasonable period of time due to disclosed or undisclosed background issues, the tentative employment offer may be withdrawn.

If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Please see http://www.sss.gov for more information.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment" (OF-306) prior to appointment and the appropriate background investigation forms to determine suitability for Federal employment.  False statements or responses on these forms can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The selectee will be required to complete a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) process that requires two forms of identification from the I-9 Form. We will compare information provided to confirm employee’s identity and eligibility to work. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

Upon appointment, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450. You will need to provide the information annually.
  
You are applying under Delegated Examining and if selected under this authority, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period, even if you are a transfer from another federal agency.

Qualifications

In addition to the mandatory education requirement, all applicants must have 52 weeks of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the candidate with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

GS-11: 1) performing routine engineering tests, evaluations and analyses and developing reports based on findings; 2) designing and implementing engineering studies; and 3) applying knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, theories, and research to determine whether a consumer product is a hazard.

GS-12: 1) performing complex engineering tests, evaluations and analyses and developing formal reports and presentations based on findings; 2) designing and implementing engineering studies; and 3) applying professional and advanced knowledge of complex mechanical engineering principles, theories, and research to assist in the determination whether a consumer product is a hazard.

GS-13: 1) performing complex mechanical engineering-based tests, evaluations and analyses and developing formal reports and presentations based on findings; 2) designing and implementing mechanical engineering studies; 3) applying expert knowledge of mechanical engineering principles, theories, and research to determine whether a consumer product is a hazard; and 4) preparing and conducting formal presentations to senior management and high-ranking officials.

Evidence of the above specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held.  Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience or based on job titles alone.  If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Applicants must meet the qualifications for this position by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Mandatory Education Requirement - All applicants must meet one of the following requirements to qualify:

Successful completion of a professional engineering degree from an accredited university or college. 

OR

You must have a combination of college-level education or training, AND technical experience that furnished you with (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. Please review the OPM page on specifics about required curriculum and for more information on qualifications, please visit GS-0800: All professional Engineering Positions qualifications. Engineering Qualifications

In addition to meeting the basic education requirements indicated above, applicants must have specialized experience and/or directly related education in the amounts shown below:

GS-11: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (as stated above) equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level OR a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree OR a combination of education AND specialized experience.

GS-12: There is no substitution for specialized experience for this grade level. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (as stated above) equivalent to at least the GS-11 grade level.

GS-13: There is no substitution for specialized experience for this grade level. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience (as stated above) equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable during the application process. Official transcripts will be required upon appointment. All education claimed by applicants will be verified. 

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

Additional information

CPSC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed in this vacancy announcement.

Payment of relocation expenses is NOT authorized.

All the information you provide will be verified by a review of the work experience and/or education as shown on your application, by checking reference and through other means, such as the interview process. Any exaggeration of your experience, false statements, or attempts to conceal information may be grounds for not hiring you or for firing you after you begin work.

Additional selections may be made through this vacancy announcement.

A selectee receiving a first appointment to the Federal Government (Civil Service) is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade for which selected. The display of a salary range on this vacancy shall not be construed as granting an entitlement to a higher rate of pay.

As a condition of employment, the selectee must reside in the local commuting area of the duty station listed in this announcement.  Telework schedules (within the local commuting area) are approved on a case-by-case basis.  Employees will have an onsite requirement each week.  Proof of residence may be required. 

This position is in the bargaining unit, The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 3579.